Social housing proposals adopted for consultation

Christchurch City Council’s proposals about its future
involvement in social housing have been adopted for public
consultation at today’s Council meeting.

The
Council is currently re-evaluating its role in providing a
social housing service, considering options that would allow
it greater flexibility in the future ownership, management
and development of its social housing portfolio.

The
Council’s preferred options are aimed at ensuring the
financial sustainability of the portfolio, while also acting
as a catalyst for the provision of up to 1,000 additional
social and affordable housing units in the city.

Deputy Mayor Vicki Buck says the Council looks forward
to receiving the views of the community during the upcoming
consultation process.

“Ensuring that our most
vulnerable community members continue to have access to
good-quality, affordable social housing is one of the
Council’s top priorities.

“As such, it’s vital
that we hear what people have to say about the steps we are
proposing to take, so that we can make decisions that are
fully informed and take into account the range of views in
our community,” she says.

Key components of the
Council’s proposals:• Establish as a limited
liability company an entity, in which the Council will have
and interest of up to 49 per cent, that will be eligible for
registration as a community housing provider under the
provisions of the Housing Restructuring and Tenancy Matters
(Community Housing Provider) Regulations 2014

•
Initially subscribe for all the shares in the new company
and appoint the first board of directors

• Lease
to the entity an appropriate mix of social housing
assets

• Gift or sell to the entity certain assets
form the Council’s social housing portfolio

•
Transfer the ownership or control of some of the Council’s
social housing portfolio to either an entity in which the
Council has an interest of up to 49 per cent, or to a third
party

• Enter into arrangements with the
Council’s City Housing partners and others for the
redevelopment of some of the land currently used for social
housing.Public consultation on the Council’s proposals
opens on 21 May, 2014, and will close at 5pm on 26 June,
2014.

Submissions can be made through the
Council’s website (www.ccc.govt.nz/HaveYourSay), or in
writing to the Council, after the consultation opening
date.

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